Colorado at Los Angeles

Rockies blank Dodgers behind stellar night from Nicasio

CBSSports.com wire reports

Sep. 29, 2013

LOS ANGELES -- Juan Nicasio outdueled Zack Greinke for his first victory in six starts and Nolan Arenado had an RBI double, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 1-0 victory over the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.

It was only the fifth shutout win for the Rockies.

Colorado right fielder Michael Cuddyer spent the game on the bench with his .333 average. Atlanta's Chris Johnson went 0 for 4 and slipped to .321 - effectively locking up Cuddyer's first batting title in 13 big league seasons with one game remaining.

Nicasio (9-9) allowed three hits over 5 1-3 innings and struck out seven while winning for the first time since Aug. 26 against San Francisco.

Adam Octavio followed Josh Outman out of the bullpen in the sixth, retiring Juan Uribe on a foul pop and Scott Van Slyke on a fly ball with the bases loaded. Rex Brothers, the sixth Rockies pitcher, got four outs for his 18th save in 20 chances.

Troy Tulowitzki doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on Arenado's two-out double to left-center.

Greinke (15-4) allowed a run and four hits through six innings. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk in his 300th major league game.

The right-hander lost for the first time in eight decisions since July 25 and finished his first regular season as a Dodger with a 2.63 ERA in 28 starts. He is scheduled to start Game 2 of the Division Series.

With Andre Ethier's status for the playoffs already in doubt because of shin splints, three other high-profile Dodger outfielders also were missing from the lineup.

Center fielder Matt Kemp was a late scratch because of left ankle soreness, and Carl Crawford was rested by manager Don Mattingly. Rookie Yasiel Puig, who fouled a pitch hard off his left shin and left Friday's game after five innings, pinch-hit in the seventh and struck out.

NOTES: Greinke is averaging 1.86 walks per nine innings in his past 16 starts, after tying a career worst with seven bases on balls at Colorado on July 3. He finished with 19 hits, the most by a Dodgers pitcher since 1993, when Orel Hershiser was 26 for 73. ... Kershaw was presented with the team's eighth annual Roy Campanella Award by former manager Tommy Lasorda before the game.

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